9 Weeks into Glandular Fever & Struggling! Looking for some reassurance
Posted , 20 users are following.
Hello everyone,
This is the first time I have ever posted on a forum but having seen some of the lovely kind words from others sharing the same issues with this horrible virus, I feel as though I could do with some of your kind advice also.
I am a 26 year old male who up until recently was in very good health, I eat well , don't smoke, drink a fair bit and exercise regularly.
I was diagnosed with EBV / Glandular Fever which started after a heavy night out on April 10th 2017 (approx 9 weeks ago) , it started with the typical sore throat with white dots on my tonsils , extreme fatigue, headaches, swollen glands etc.
Being self employed and running a very busy business with 5 employees it has been a real struggle to take anytime off work so after the initail 4-5 days of being very ill I went back into work to get things done but whilst feeling very dizzy, disorientated and generally unwell.
My role at work though is more mentally straining than physical so I didn't push myself too hard and mainly sat in my office keeping an eye on things and doing e-mails etc.
This cycle continues for the past 8 weeks and I have led a pretty normal life but just feeling constantly tired and slightly nauseous all of the time until the past couple of days where everything has seemed to have got promptly worse.
My throat has swollen right up again, I have terrible headaches and muscle aches, bad anxiety and extreme exhaustion. I have been at home resting for the past two days.
Next Thursday, I have a weeks fishing trip planned to my local lake where I can camp out and relax but I don't even think I have the energy to do that. I desperatly want to feel even 10% better just so I have the energy to go fishing but I really do not know if camping for a week is going to make me feel even worse.
My thoughts are that I will be able to relax on my comfy bed chair in my tent and do pretty much nothing for a week so surely that will be equally , if not more relaxing as being at home but the way I feel at the moment I do not know if I can bring myself to even do that.
What do you guys think I should do and does anyone have any idea how long it may take someone of my age / fitness to regain my health?
Thanks for listening,
Sam
0 likes, 159 replies
Samsick
Posted
Hey Everyone.
At the 8 month mark now and still no improvement.
The depression is so bad that I decided to try and fight the virus one morning over the weekend and go for a light run for 12 minutes including some press ups. Was it the biggest mistake ever!? YES! I felt light headed and the next day felt so terrible it was unbearable.
I know this was probably a stupid idea anyway but I was so fed up and thought that maybe I could kick start my body into getting back to normal.
I definitely will not be doing this anytime again soon. I have also just signed up to Gina Burtons online programme as she has helped over 1,000 sufferers of this horrible virus so I will see what that may bring to me.
Some days I feel as though I am making progress but the next day it just goes back to square one again so it is so very difficult to say.
What is by far the worst thing about this virus is the thought that I may never get back to how I used to be again! I don't care if it takes another few months or whatever as long as I know that I will recover as I have heard horror stories of people who develop chronic fatigue that never goes away.
I am young , fit and healthy (well I was) so surely I can recover and at least get to the point where I can go out to the pub for a couple of pints and come home at 10PM , fall asleep and feel okay the next morning.
How is everyone else getting on?
Much love,
Sam
40with.gf. Samsick
Posted
Hi Sam,
it's been a year now for me and I'm having a down turn at the minute🙄 Other than that I was improving amazingly. It really is an up and down virus and a slow recovery. I saw an endocrinologist who told me I've got another 6 months to a year before I feel normal again!! He did say this will go,which is comforting. It's the depressive mood and crying I hate. Fed up with it all, totally done in
Samsick 40with.gf.
Posted
Thats interesting. Would you say that overall you have made progress? How long has your current down turn been? I suppose the doctor you saw must've seen this regularly and has seen people in our position go on to make a full recovery? It has to get better eventually surely!? Its just so difficult staying positive when this has gone on for so long!
40with.gf. Samsick
Posted
Oh goodness me, yes! I have made really good progress, I do so much more than I could do a few months ago!!!
This struggling phase has been 3 weeks now, but the 3 weeks before that were awesome, I thought that was it, it was definately in its way out! And then it pops it's ugly head back up again. Hopefully this will pass soon and I'll been on the up again.
the endocrinologist said post viral fatigue symptoms and thought I'd be phasing back to work by springtime. He must see hundreds like me and was confident when he said this will go. He just said it matter of fact.
my friends daughter who is 16 had it well over a year before she was able to go back to college, she still has rest days!!
This is immensely hard to deal with, just because it has been going on for so long, it's so wearing. I feel so sad right now, but I know it's just this stupid virus. Xxx
j76666 Samsick
Posted
I have been struggling with GF for a few months and was considering using Gina Burton service. How have you found it?
All the best in health.
diane83287 Samsick
Posted
Jelley93 Samsick
Posted
1. Seven seas cod liver oil and multivitamins 1 per day
2. Vitamin B complex Holland and barret 1 per day
3. Vitamin C 1000 mg Holland and barret 1 per day
4. Vitamin D Holland and barret 1 per day
5. Magnesium 250-500 mg take it at bed time to calm and relax you.
Also check out for iron deficiency.
Sam lets hope we all recover sooner rather than later.
Samsick Jelley93
Posted
You are right the depression is definitely one of the symptoms and is a result of all of the other nasty symptoms.
I have been taking similar vitamins to you also. Are you working at the moment and can you get through the day without having to have a sit / lie down for a bit?
Sam x
Jelley93 Samsick
Posted
Yep at work. I have a full time position what I do I cycle to work 5 days per week 6 miles a day. I don't touch wood get as tired like at the start. However I'm always on guard incase it relapses really bad. I'm living like a hermit to be honest. Get up at 550am and go bed at 8pm. I've got some days off this month and I'm resting on those days. My main issue is an unbalanced feeling plus feelings of anxiety not as bad but still there. I forgot to say in my last post I take a beta blocker one per day propranolol 10mg. It calms you down a bit. The virus is one violent sod. Take care
Samsick Jelley93
Posted
Thats crazy I couldn't even think about cycling a mile how on earth do you manage 30 miles cycling a week. No wonder you are tired haha
I have the constant unbalanced feeling if I move my head side to side it feels very light and makes me dizzy.
Also I just feel constantly off balance and like I need to sleep even though it never helps.
I used to take propranolol but found it made my anxiety worse so came off it a few years ago
craig07920 Samsick
Posted
Hi Sam,
Oh it's understandable how you feel, it's an awful and frightening experience when you just can't see any light at the end of the tunnel. For me, at 8 months, I was feeling quite similar to you, feeling so down and frustrated and really no further forward. After about 10 months something seemed to happen really overnight more or less and the intensity was less and life was more bearable again, and from there full recovery came given a bit of time. So I do want to reassure you that this can and usually does happen for most people, so doctors and folk who write people off after so long of fatigue don't listen to them - believe me anything inside the first year is still very normal to feel this way and most DO go on to make a full recovery even after being unwell for so long.
I did the same as you went for a short run a couple of times was so frustrated and regretted it with the tiredness - want to reassure you this won't cause any long term harm and even just doing things like walking and stuff if you can is good for now, balanced with plenty of rest and still doing things that you enjoy that don't take up too much energy is really good for you! Good advice from Jelley too regarding taking some vitamins and herbs if not already doing so - can really help.
Hang in there and I still believe you ARE going to get fully better - without any doubt I believe that Sam.
Craig
Samsick craig07920
Posted
Thanks once again Craig.
I promise you that if I do go on to make a full recovery then I will drop in to see you in Scotland when i'm passing with a nice bottle of single malt (or whatever your preference) to enjoy a glass or two like I used to love doing!
It is so frustrating that there is not much you can do to help speed up recovery but I am just hoping to see some / any form of improvement just so it is a little easier to get through each day.
Did you feel the same as I did for 8 months? Very fatigued, drained and slightly dizzy.. as though every single task is a complete effort.. it is a unique feeling I had never ever felt before prior to GF other than perhaps one day I was skiing and did about 50km in a day and felt completely wiped out.. That is what it feels like.. just permanently !
Cheers,
Sam
craig07920 Samsick
Posted
Why thank you Sam that would be a pleasure when we are both feeling fit and well!!
It's hard for me to remember exactly but yes I do think I felt like that after 8 months, it was around this time I had quite an unusual sense of fatigue and pain in some of the joints in my arms and legs too, some weird bruising and stuff which I just couldn't explain....but looking back that was actually like it was the final push before starting recovery, so really hoping and believing that can be the case for you too!
It really is so frustrating, noone can understand unless they have been through it and what you have to deal with physically and mentally with it each day, I really wouldn't wish it on anyone.
Thinking of you and everyone here!
Craig
Jelley93 Samsick
Posted
Yeah the unbalanced feeling really scared me at the start. But now it just makes me angry. However I'm not sure whether it's is a direct link to the virus or whether it's the anxiety causing it. I'm guessing it is the virus. The anxiety is secondary.
ralph77778 Samsick
Posted
whats your story...
craig07920 ralph77778
Posted
Hi Ralph,
I do understand, it's so tough I know when too much time to think about it all I'm the same then I don't know how to keep myself busy sometimes too when feeling that way and feeling like can't cope with things....such a hard balance to find. It sounds like you're doing all the right things, taking vitamins, drinking water, surrounding yourself with positive things - you really are doing things to help yourself and that will pay off truly Ralph I believe that it will - just hang in there and the storm is going to pass, you WILL make a full recovery even though it doesn't feel that way at the moment.
Take care and thinking of you
Craig